Board of Directors

Irene Pizzimenti

Irene is a native of Michigan and has lived in south east and south central Michigan for most of her life. It wasn’t until 1984 that the Lord called her and she gave her life away for the sake of the gospel. She met her husband, John, in church choir and they got married in 1986. After their first daughter was born, Irene became a stay at home mom, and shortly there after became a homeschooling mom to their three daughters. Over the years, the Lord has open doors for her to serve as a teacher, choir director, theater director, and even as the manager of a nonprofit restaurant.

Irene and John relocated to Hendersonville, NC, in 2022, where Irene will continue to serve as a Biblical Counselor through Healing Hearts Ministries International. Her time spent in online classes with The  River has opened her eyes to the accessibility and importance of reading Biblical texts well, for herself and for others.

Lee Ann Briley

Lee Ann grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. At the age of 12, the LORD called her to Himself. She attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and receive a degree in Early Childhood Education and taught for a few years before starting a family. She met her husband, Brian, at church and has been married for 35 years. She is the mother of four and grandmother of three. She moved to Greenville in 1999 where she and Brian served in various Christian ministries. In 2003, the LORD called their family to Romania to work with orphans for 2 years.

She has a heart to listen and learn from God and desires for others to read God’s Word and expand their understanding of Him. She has been involved with River Bible studies and joined the board in 2021.

Paul Clark

Paul moved to in Greenville from the Northeast while in high school and graduated from Bob Jones University in 1986. He is a business owner and leadership developer, trying to speak the truth in love in his business and personal relationships. Having served as a pastor, elder and teacher in the local church, he wants to see the Body of Christ strengthened, church leaders encouraged, and the Gospel advanced into the community. He loves shooting pictures, cooking breakfast, writing creatively, and traveling to distant places. He also enjoys a quiet drive in the country with Lisa, his best friend of 35 years, or admiring their 2 adult kids offering up an impromptu duet on a single guitar.

Paul has been an active board member of The River since its inception in 2013. He loves the way Jesus uses the members of His Body to minister to each other. Paul takes great delight in watching the the truth of God’s Word being communicated in a classroom setting, and seeing the Spirit bring light into the eyes and into the lives of the hearers. This has been a primary driver for his involvement with The River. An active member of Summit Church (CherryDale campus), Paul has the opportunity to use his teaching giftedness. Paul also serves in a teaching capacity for The River.

Lisa Mallory

Lisa was born and raised in a loving, Christian home in Sharon, Pennsylvania.  She was saved as a young girl and began learning to enjoy life with Jesus by her parents and in church youth groups.  After graduating from Penn State University, she moved to Orlando, Florida, where she had great joy working with special needs children at United Cerebral Palsy. She later was delighted to work with adults with life altering injuries at Florida Hospital Rehabilitation Center as their community reentry specialist and aquatic therapist.

Lisa met her husband, Duane, on a blind date set up by friends.  They have been married for 23 years and enjoy their 3 adult children.  The Lord graciously led her family to the Upstate in 2004.  Lisa has treasured being a stay at home wife and mom while volunteering for Bible studies, church small groups and caring for neighbors as God leads.  She loves movies, hiking and enjoying the lake with friends and family.

Her passion for God’s word continues to grow as she is learning and serving on the board of The River Upstate.

Scott Frey

Scott was born and raised in Elkhart, IN, where he learned to respect Scripture and accept it as truth at a young age, but more like the truth one would find in a history book. Bob Jones University brought him and his high school sweetheart, Heidi (now Frey since 1998) to Greenville, where he originally studied youth ministry until feeling God leading him into the financial industry. Instead of a genuine pursuit of Jesus, the pursuit had been to follow and elevate the rules he felt were necessary for a “good” Christian.  In God’s sovereign, perfect timing, He illuminated Scott’s need to fully embrace His grace and mercy in a way that didn’t depend on his performance. This took place while at Southside Baptist (now Fellowship Greenville) early in their marriage. This is where he met Brian Onken, founder of The River Upstate, who became a counselor, mentor and friend.  Scott and his wife, Heidi, have faithfully served as small group leaders in the adult and youth ministries for over twenty years. He loves seeing the “lights come on” with students when simply reading Scripture together.

When he isn’t enjoying his time serving families in his financial field of expertise, he’s likely running trails in the Carolina mountains, enjoying time with his family on their farm or planning an adventure somewhere in the world to share with them. He has a passion for experiencing new places and cultures with his family, while also being able to support those who are in full-time ministry as the Spirit leads.

He is honored to be on the board and have the opportunity to infect others with the joy of experiencing our Saviour through Scripture.

Marty Windsor

Born in North Carolina and raised in Tennessee, Marty heard the gracious call of God and set out on his faith journey in a country church beside the river at the base of Holston Mountain.

The quest to live life in Christ took him to Greenville where he attended and graduated Bob Jones University. After graduation, his path forward brought many twists and turns. While playing guitar and singing in a local restaurant, Marty met Beth and they married in 1984. Marty soon began working in the field of engineering and design, which he continues to do presently.

It was through the blessing of children, Phillip and Shelley, that the Lord began to refine Marty and Beth’s understanding of the gospel, and through the community of faith at Southside Baptist Church, later known as Fellowship Greenville, they became involved in local church ministry. They began to serve in music and hospitality areas, and later helped to launch Crossroads Community Church in Simpsonville.

Through the ministry of the local church and The River Upsate, the primacy and centrality of the Word of God has become a constant and prominent theme in their lives. It is a great privilege to serve on The River board to help spread love for this Word which reveals to us the living Christ.

Juli Jordan

Juli was raised in the extremes of the United States, from Anchorage, Alaska, to West Palm Beach, Florida, with a few other places scattered in-between. With those moves and changes, she learned to love adventure and to explore many different aspects of God’s creation. She learned about her need for a Savior while a very young girl. That understanding has since grown into a desire to know and love the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in greater and greater ways. Juli graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Counseling Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University in south Florida, married in 1984, and has raised and educated 4 children here in the Upstate. God directed Juli to found and direct H.O.P.E. Homeschool Co-op, which she led for 12 years and through which she enjoyed many logistical, administrative and creative aspects. Today, she is the proud “Gigi” to two beautiful granddaughters.

Juli’s journey with The River started several years ago. As the “I get it” moments kept occurring for her in The River classes she attended, the desire for others to read Scripture well and get to know God deeper for themselves continued to grow. She has served on the board since May, 2018.